A controversial penalty try from referee Steve Lander was the difference
between the sides at Kingston Park.
Lander awarded the try after 33 minutes when Saracens' Andy Goode kicked ahead
and appeared to be obstructed. The ball went into touch with several players
chasing it and at best it looked to be a line-out - possibly a penalty.
However Lander looked at his touch judge and then raced behind the posts to
award a penalty try and Goode converted for a 20-3 lead for Saracens.
It was probably no more than Newcastle deserved after a naive first half-hour
but they will feel aggrieved they did not haul the game back in a huge
second-half display.
Dave Walder missed an early penalty and it heralded a major period of running
rugby from both sides with some fearsome tackling and Warren Britz's pulverising
run set up another penalty which Walder kicked after eight minutes.
But Paul Bailey rocketed over in the face of some poor Newcastle defence just
two minutes later and Goode's conversion put Saracens 7-3 ahead.
A brilliant Tom May break should have led to a try but Richard Haughton made a
great tackle on Ben Gollings 10 metres from the line. However Saracens were then
gifted three points when Garath Archer was penalised for hanging on in the
tackle. Morgan William took it quickly and although it looked as though Archer
had retreated 10 metres referee Lander got it wrong and gave another penalty and
Goode made it 10-3 with the kick.
He then slotted a drop goal when Newcastle lost the ball in their own half by
trying to be too clever off the back of the line-out. Saracens rumbled it on
through Simon Raiwalui and Goode kicked a simple drop goal.
Then came the controversial penalty try after 33 minutes.
Newcastle finally got their act together with a massive forward dive and a
Jamie Noon break followed by swiftly recycled ball and Jamie Grindal darted over
for the try converted by Walder for 20-10.
The Falcons were back in the game, especially after Gollings and Walder forced
a line-out deep in the Saracens 22 with a Newcastle throw, and from another
massive forward drive Walder did well to take Grindal's high pass, swivel and
drop a goal.
There was simply no stopping Newcastle with some pulverising forward play and
mesmerising handling in the backs. Hugh Vyvyan stepped inside two tackles and
passed inside for Britz to storm over and Walder's conversion levelled the
scores at 20-20.
Again Newcastle made the crucial mistake of trying to run it in their own half
and Epi Taione was turned over on his own 10-metre line and Richard Haughton
swept away for a try to put Saracens back in front with eight minutes left.
With four minutes of normal time left, Newcastle spurned a kick at goal to go
for the line-out in the corner but lost the throw again and could not find the
breakthrough they needed to snatch the game.
Teams
Newcastle: Shaw, Stephenson, Noon, May, Gollings, Walder,
Grindal, Ward, Makin, Hurter, Archer, Andrews, Taione, Britz,
Vyvyan.
Replacements: Charlton for Grindal (66), Kay for Makin (78),
Peel for Hurter (40).
Not Used: Godman, Wilson., Hamilton, Dowson.
Tries: Grindal, Britz.
Cons: Walder 2.
Pens: Walder.
Drop Goals: Walder.
Saracens: Castaignede, Haughton, Johnston, Bailey, McAvoy,
Goode, Williams, Randell, Peacey, Roques, Chesney, Raiwalui,
Bergamaschi, Ross, Sparks.
Replacements: Skirving for Peacey (77), Parkes for Ross (50).
Not Used: Croall, Broser, Kirton, Sorrell, Winnan.
Tries: Bailey, Penalty, Haughton.
Cons: Goode 2.
Pens: Goode.
Drop Goals: Goode.
Att: 7,012
Ref: Steve Lander (RFU).
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